(A/N): We're back with Elaine and Remus, and they meet up with Dahrya. I'm considering doing a special chapter for Valentine's Day (to be fair, I've technically already written it, but I'm not sure whether I'll be uploading it ON Valentine's Day, which is a Wednesday, or in the usual spot on the following Monday), but it isn't exactly very... romantic. Like, there are mentions of a potential romantic relationship- several, but one is the main focus- that is quickly and adamantly dismissed by both parties, but it's more, um... dark, than normal? I originally had something else planned, more in line with last year's St Vampentine's Day, but then I discovered a plot hole, and had a miniature crisis before I solved it, but realised I had to come up with something else. So, yeah... not sure whether it should be posted on Valentine's Day or not, since it isn't really... thematically relevant.

Trigger Warning: Elaine VERY briefly references that she doesn't have a good relationship with her own father, which, knowing the context as we all do at this point, might be considered a reference to child abuse? I don't know if this particular instance requires a warning, but I'm trying to be extra cautious.

Elaine

After a promise of later help brainstorming ways to convince Leo to drink from me again- what a trip that was- Remus and I continued on our journey to find Mia and Dahrya. In the end, we caught Dahrya first, making her way to breakfast, and before I had the chance to do more than open my mouth, she attacked me- verbally, of course. "Here to babysit me again?"

I suppose I should've expected such animosity, given what Leo mentioned about her threatening him, but it honestly threw me off enough to bring out my instinctive response- of meeting her aggression with my own. "That depends," I told her. "Are you going to act like a baby?" Maybe that wasn't fair, since I didn't know why she was acting this way- besides the obvious, likely highly emotional factor of finding out who her father was- but... you know what? She started it.

Her scowl was predictable, as was Remus's instant attempt to get between us. "This isn't productive," He said. "Dahrya, you're mad at Leo, not Elaine- and Elaine... remember why we're here." Right... I wanted information about Leo- about half-vampires, and the experience of being one. Unfortunately for me, I didn't think Dahrya was all that keen on distinguishing between targets, at the moment.

"I'm mad at everyone," She snarled, and I knew exactly when Remus decided to take advantage of the secret I'd let him in on, because I watched his cheeks turn pink, right before he asked,

"Even me?" The look she shot his way was wary, but not angry- which spoke volumes, given her current mood... and her combative nature in general, to be honest. "I didn't do anything; I'm on your side... but I can't let you and Elaine get into it, y'know?"

She looked vaguely suspicious- or maybe it was just a reluctance to let go of her anger so easily- but eventually, she reached out and slugged him in the shoulder in a way I assumed was meant to be gentle, but in reality, rocked him back on his heels with the force of the impact. "You- You're cool. You can stay. Everyone else is on my shit list, though." Apparently so. "Especially Leo- and unfortunately for you two, that extends to Elaine... because I know there's no better way to get back at him, than going after her." Uh oh... I suppose she could join Cipicia and Jonothan then, with that knowledge. Wait... was that what Leo had been alluding to, when he said in his letter that she'd made some 'interesting threats'? If so- gee, thanks for the advance warning, buddy!

"You want to get back at Leo?" I asked her, and she cocked an eyebrow at me as if to further declare her intention to use me to do so, if need be. "You want to punish him for knowing who your father is, and refusing to tell you?" She glared at me.

"Obviously." Well, I couldn't fault her enthusiasm... or lack thereof. "He has no right to try to keep that from me- and even less to get you to babysit me to deal with the fallout."

To be fair, if I was in her position, I'd probably be just as angry... but if I was correct- if Jerremyah was her father- then... maybe it was for the best she didn't know. "Speaking of which," I said, and reached around to retrieve her letter from my bag. "Got this about an hour and a half ago- maybe a little longer. Do you want to read it, or is it just going to make you even angrier?" She glared at me, then snatched it out of my hands- I guess it was lucky no one was around to witness her unnecessary use of vampire speed.

"That entirely depends on whether he's heeded my warning and given in to my demands, or not." Knowing Leo, he hadn't- which meant that I was, in fact, about to have to deal with the fallout. She tore the envelope apart, and idly, I hoped that wasn't a sign of things to come. As Dahrya continued getting progressively more infuriated the longer she read, Remus and I shared an equally concerned look; when she'd apparently finished the whole thing, she made a disgusted noise, and flung the letter- only to snag it out of the air before it even had the chance to fall, and push it into my chest. "Take this... bullshit. I can't deal with- Ugh!" Out of sheer curiosity, I lifted the letter- and when she made no move to stop me, I started reading.

Dahrya,

First of all, you touch one hair on Elaine's head, and I'll make sure YOU'RE the one who suffers.

Ah... aw? That was... sweet, if a little... well, no, I thought it was sweet, but I'm not so sure I'd say the same thing if I was in Dahrya's position.

Second of all, you're really going to call ELAINE a babysitter? Elaine? Really? That's ballsy.

The contrast between the way he spoke about me in this letter to Dahrya- which I was never supposed to read- and the way he addressed me in our letters was... vast, to say the least. A vast ocean, filled with tiny doodled love hearts.

I knew who your father was before HE did- and I WOULD tell you, but there are some... unforeseen complications preventing me from doing so. For example, his insistence on getting your mother's permission before trying to contact you.

He- hm... I guess that was nice of Jerremyah, at least.

He's honestly- he seems very determined to do right by you, and I don't have the mental capacity to try to manage both of you, at the moment.

Leo... obviously, that wasn't going to help her calm down any.

I don't think it's too much of an issue to tell you- He didn't know. She never told him- your mother. He didn't know he had a kid, let alone that you were- He didn't know. I don't know if that will make you feel any better about this, but... it's not his fault. If you have to be mad at someone, be mad at me- and don't take it out on Elaine, because not only will she fight back, but... she's also the most caring person I've ever met, and you need all the help you can get, right now.

The bane of your existence (apparently),

Leo Ellwood

PS: I'm sorry. I know firsthand what it's like to not know who your father is, and I wouldn't wish that uncertainty on my worst enemy- and it may not feel like it right now, but you certainly aren't that. It's only a few more days, hang in there.

Oh, Leo... I hadn't taken into account the fact that he also hadn't known who his father was- at least for a little while- and how that might be affecting his decision to keep this knowledge from Dahrya. I knew he and his dad didn't always get along the best, but that didn't change how grateful they were to have each other- which was something Dahrya currently didn't have. I guess it just wasn't the sort of thing I thought about, considering my relationship with my own father; the question was, if I didn't know who my father was- who one of my parents was- could I bear having it kept from me, like this?

"You know something." In the end, I didn't have the chance to decide whether or not to say anything, because clearly, my face was saying enough for the both of us. "Tell me. Elaine- Elaine."

I glanced at Remus, who was now watching me with wide, curious eyes- Right. Not only was he not privy to my conversation with Leo about Dahrya's father, I also hadn't told any of them about Jerremyah and Greygorry joining Leo's clan. "It's- It's complicated. I don't... know anything for sure, but..." Seeing the desperation on Dahrya's face, I winced. "Leo inducted two new vampires into his clan, right before that letter arrived... and I think one of them may be your father."

(A/N): I debated between Leo saying 'one hair' and 'a single lovely curl' on Elaine's head, and eventually decided on 'one hair' only because I felt like Leo would be worried that Dahrya might take him waxing poetic about Elaine badly right now. I also almost had Leo say 'that's ballsy, kid/kiddo' in response to her calling Elaine a babysitter, but Leo knows all too well that Dahrya would eviscerate him for calling her that, especially right now. Foreshadowing? Kind of, maybe, sort of?

Elaine: 'I knew he (Leo) and his dad didn't always get along the best, but that didn't change how grateful they were to have each other- which was something Dahrya currently didn't have.'

Leo: *also currently doesn't have it, because Nicholai is dead as heck*